Plan 365 August 2019 by Farmlands

AUGUST 2019

RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE

NUTRITION

FORAGE AND ARABLE

HORTICULTURE

ANIMAL MANAGEMENT

DAIRY MANAGEMENT

Plan 365 is a technical guide aimed at helping shareholders learn about best practice and the latest advancements in rural technology.

NUTRITION

Feeding to increase the live lamb crop Until recently, the strongest interest in compound feed for ewes at lambing time came from stud breeders who produce high-value stock and have an interest in demonstrating a high-lambing percentage. With recent changes in the market, such as swine fever affecting global meat supplies and a general upward trend in lamb prices, it makes more sense than ever to feed ewes to minimise lamb losses. Prolific ewes that produce more lambs are well suited to smaller farms and can help offset the cost of carrying a ram for a small flock. Indeed, improved lambing percentage makes the biggest contribution to higher profits on sheep farms1. Beef + Lamb NZ have found that average lamb death rates range from 5 to 26 percent between farms and are higher for multiples than singles. About 60 percent of lamb deaths are caused by dystocia (obstructed labour) in singles and starvation/ exposure mostly in multiples. High birth weights (mainly singles) increase the risk of dystocia whereas low birth weights increase the risk of starvation/ exposure (mainly multiples). Dystocia is mainly caused by the difficulty of passing large single lambs but can occur with small weak lambs so it is worthwhile looking at the size of lambs being lost. Starvation and exposure losses are greater when lambs are small and lack body reserves born to ewes who lack colostrum. Triplets are at more risk

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| Twin-rearing ewes can help lift profitability.

of exposure/starvation than twins but are important if the lambing percentage at tailing is to increase. Good ewe nutrition in late pregnancy and early lactation improves lamb survival and early growth rates but must be appropriate to the needs of the ewes. It is important to feed ewes, especially multiple bearing or those in thin condition, well during the last 6 weeks of pregnancy to minimise ewe body condition loss and improve fat reserves on lambs when born. This minimises the risk of ewe metabolic disorders and improves colostrum production and subsequent milk production which peaks 24 weeks after lambing then gradually declines. Low-energy, high-bulk feeds like hay and baleage are not good supplements to grazing for ewes in last pregnancy. Supplementary feeding with grain-based compound feed is a convenient way to fill a feed pinch and deliver essential major minerals,

trace elements and vitamins. NRM Sheep Nuts are a good option in late pregnancy to reduce the risks associated with underfeeding or stress from bad weather. Typical feeding rate is only 150g/head/day but more can be fed if required. With additional energy and by-pass protein, NRM Sheep Triplet Nuts are designed specifically for pregnant ewes bearing triplets (or more). They are typically fed at 200g/head/ day. Sheep Triplet Nuts can be fed to any ewes after lambing if pasture quality or quantity is lacking. Ewe lambs born to ewes fed well during pregnancy have been found to have better lifetime production than those from poorly fed ewes, meaning good nutrition can lead to increased flock performance in the long term. For further information, contact your local Nutrition Specialist. 1. Beef + Lamb NZ, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Making Every Mating Countâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, 2013. Article supplied by Dr Rob Derrick, NRM Lead Nutritionist.

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NUTRITION

The hard facts about lamb hard feeding Milk is an important food source for young lambs but it can also be a good idea to introduce a hard feed into the diet of hand-reared lambs as early as possible, to encourage rumen development and help set them up for weaning time. Hard feeds do not stimulate the closure of the oesophageal groove, so when the feed is eaten it is deposited in the rumen where it stimulates rumen development. The rumen is the stomach compartment in the digestive system where grass goes when it is consumed by a lamb. The more welldeveloped the rumen is at weaning, the more energy the lamb will be able to get from grass at weaning so they will thrive rather than struggle at this key time. It is almost like going to the gym and training for a marathon – if we can get lambs using their rumens before they need to rely on them more heavily, it will help in the long run.

Top tips for hard feeding lambs

• Ensure there is enough room at hard feed troughs so that all lambs

• Offer a hard feed during the first week of life. This ensures the lambs get used to the taste of the feed. Intakes will be very small at first but will increase as lambs get older – this early period is a training period for getting them used to the hard feed. • Always go for a lamb-specific hard feed as it is better suited for lambs as opposed to a calf feed, which may be too high in copper and could cause copper toxicity in lambs. • Avoid hard feed that has any by-product type ingredients such as palm kernel, copra or tapioca – lambs do not like the taste and will eat less of these feeds. • Keep feed troughs clean and avoid putting lots of hard feed out as it could go mouldy or get contaminated by vermin/birds. A small amount of fresh feed every day is best and increase the amount offered to match intake.

can eat at once if they choose. • After feeding on milk, lambs have a strong desire to consume so putting some hard feed in their mouths can help to get them used to the taste and texture of hard feed. • Also offer some long fibre i.e. hay/ straw but ensure that lambs do not over-consume the long fibre source as this can decrease hard feed intake. This can be a particular problem if very palatable long fibre is sourced. A good idea is to make the long fibre a little trickier to eat by putting it in a hay rack or hay bag. • Choose a lamb hard feed with a coccidiostat in it (such as Deccox®). Coccidiosis is a common parasitic issue in lambs so opting for a lamb feed with a preventative treatment in it is a good decision. • It is a good idea to keep a hard feed in over the weaning period and beyond, to support lambs while on grass. • Check out NRM’s range of hard lamb feeds. NRM Lamb Start Mix is a muesli-style starter feed, which is a molassed, highly palatable, textured feed designed to help start getting young lambs onto hard feed. • NRM Lamb Performance is a pelleted lamb feed perfect as a next-stage hard feed for lambs as they get older. For further information, contact your local Nutrition Specialist. Article supplied by Stacey Cosnett, Nutritionist.

| Avoid hard feeds that have any by-product type ingredients such as palm kernel, copra or tapioca.

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NUTRITION

The once or twice-a-day calf feed debate When I am presenting at calf-rearing events there is always one common question asked, “Should I feed my calves once a day or twice?” It is mostly personal preference, as there are positives and negatives to both systems. However, the calf-rearing project that ran from the Poukawa Research Farm in Hawke’s Bay from 1999–2010 gave calf rearers clarity. The results from these studies have formed the basis of advice for farmers in the dairy and beef industries ever since. The project found that the biggest advantages of using a lower volume of milk once per day were the reduction of labour costs and earlier consumption of calf meals. The problem with twice-a-day, highvolume systems, as evidenced at Poukawa, is that calves can be more satisfied – which leads to a slower meal uptake and tends to create slower rumen development. With a slower meal uptake, calves then tend to struggle when they go onto grass, as they can’t physically consume the correct amount of pasture needed to supply enough energy for weaning time. For these calves that are slower at feed uptake, milk feeding needs to be prolonged to ensure their development isn’t impacted.

a-day (OAD) system requires a sharp eye and good animal husbandry skills, being proactive at feeding time, not taking the “she’ll be right” attitude or “the wait and see” method. With the twice-a-day (TAD) system, they are monitored more frequently so it is easier to notice any health issues. Whichever system you choose, all feed systems require all the basic needs to be met to a high hygienic standard and must include the important colostrum stage. During the first 14 days, it is recommended to stay on TAD feeding especially if changing from one milk source to another. When calves are feeding on rich colostrum for the first 4 days (which is needed) we sometimes see a nutritional scour or “sulk” between days 4–7. This is often around the time calves are travelled, adding extra stress. This also occurs when calves are changed to milk replacers, a time when people can have a few scour incidences. A 50/50 mix of the current and new milk option for up to 5 days helps the transition. The use of electrolytes is important to keep the calf well hydrated when scouring.

In the Poukawa studies it was found that the twice-a-day system calves were considerably lighter at 12 weeks than those on the once-a-day system with a high-protein pellet.

To grow your calves on whole milk or milk replacer is costly per kilogram of live weight gain so the OAD system gets them well established onto high-quality pellets and straw, which can reduce the cost significantly. Milk feeding of calves does not assist rumen development and can also see the calves struggle to thrive at weaning.

In my own experience, especially around the calves’ health, the once-

The great debate is totally a personal preference and what

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| There are positives and negatives to both once and twice-a-day feeding systems.

suits you and your calves best. Top tip: Preparation must be accurate e.g. consistent feeding temperatures and times, with no fluctuations. Fact: Badly prepared milk replacer will not provide the correct nutrition and will cause poor growth and health. For further information, contact your local Nutrition Specialist. Article supplied by Karen Fraser, Technical Specialist – Nutrition.

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NUTRITION

How to prevent failure of passive transfer (FPT) FPT is a term for the condition that occurs when a newborn animal does not get enough quality maternal colostrum or absorb adequate quantities of immunoglobulin (from colostrum) in the first 24 hours of life – making it susceptible to disease and death as well as affecting long term productivity. FPT costs the agricultural industry millions of dollars annually.

Small intestine

Abomasum

Small intestine

Abomasum

What contributes to FPT? • Feeding colostrum with inadequate levels of Immunoglobulin G (IgG). • Feeding insufficient volumes of colostrum. • Feeding colostrum too late after birth. • Bacteria contaminating colostrum at harvest, during storage or at feeding. These four attributes of colostrum management will help you increase the probability that your newborn animals acquire adequate levels of antibodies: 1. Quality – quality maternal colostrum should have a dry matter content of at least 20 percent. 2. Quantity – newborn animals should receive a minimum of 15 percent of their birthweight as liquid colostrum. This means that calves should receive a minimum of 100g of IgG and lambs or kids should receive 10.8g IgG. To account for variability in colostrum quality, a minimum of 4L (preferably 6L) of maternal colostrum is recommended for a calf, whilst a minimum of 400mL (preferably 600mL) is recommended for a lamb or goat kid.

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0 Hrs

24 Hrs

36 Hrs

48 Hrs

Transfer of of Passive Immunity Transfer Passive Immunity

Legend

Optimal IgG absorbtion into the calf’s bloodstream takes soon as possibletakes after birth. Between Optimal absorption of antibodies (lgGs) into a place calf’sasbloodstream 24-30 hours, the ability of IgG to pass through the gut lining diminishes. By 48 hours, gut closure place asIgGsoon as into possible after birth. 24-30 hours, prevents transfer the bloodstream. TheBetween same applies with lambs andthe goatability kids. of lgG to pass through the gut lining diminishes. By 48 hours, gut closure prevents lgG transfer into the bloodstream.

3. Immediacy – the first feed of

- IgG

(18 percent) and is high fat (minimum

colostrum should be as soon

18 percent), making it the most

as possible following birth,

balanced colostrum powder on the

preferably within 1 to 2 hours. 4. Cleanliness – proper hygiene should be used when collecting and handling colostrum to decrease bacterial contamination, which

New Zealand market. 18 percent IgG provides high levels of immunity, while the high-fat content provides the animals with necessary fuel for growth.

may cause disease in newborns. In

Importantly, Launchpad18 Colostrum

addition, if maternal colostrum is not

Powder is unadulterated, pure

fed within 1 to 2 hours of collection,

colostrum. In other words, it is

it should be refrigerated or frozen.

collected at first milking, frozen,

AgriVantage’s new Launchpad18

transported, thawed and dried.

Colostrum Powder provides you

There are no additives and it is

with a new source of guaranteed quality colostrum. It can be used as a sole colostrum source or combined with maternal colostrum. Made from first-day bovine colostrum (gold), Launchpad18 is unique in that it has a high concentration of IgG

not manipulated in any way. For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by AgriVantage.

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NUTRITION

Getting it right, right from the start Controlling worms in foals and young horses is important as their immature immune systems make them far more susceptible to worms than older animals. They are also more susceptible to damage caused by worms, due to their smaller size. Immature lungs and digestive systems are easily damaged by migrating worms and a worm burden that may not cause a problem in an adult horse can easily block the gut of a foal. Ascarids – the worms most dangerous to young horses The large roundworm, or ascarid, primarily affects horses less than two years of age and is the most significant parasite in young horses because they are such large worms and can quickly develop into life-threatening numbers. They have the potential to cause liver damage, which is repairable and lung damage, which is permanent. Each female ascarid can lay 100,000 to 200,000 eggs each day. The eggs pass out with the horse’s faeces and can remain viable for up to 10 years. When the egg is ingested and after hatching the larvae immediately penetrate the lining of the intestinal tract, beginning a 30-day migration. It is important to remember that faecal egg tests do not detect migration of parasite larvae within the horse. The ascarid larvae migrate to the liver and after eating that, continue to the lungs. Unlike the liver, which can regenerate, damage done to the lungs is permanent. When a horse is just a few months old it has

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all the lung tissue it is ever going to have. Because lung tissue heals by scarring, damage means less functional lung is available. Horses whose lungs have been damaged may have to breathe harder and faster to meet their oxygen demand. Ascarid larval migration can also lead to other diseases. It reduces overall thriftiness in foals and can be related to pneumonia. The larvae may have an immunosuppressive effect in the lung, reducing the ability of the horse’s immune system to respond to foreign invaders like bacteria and viruses. Understanding mectin resistance and ascarids Unfortunately, it appears ascarids will be the worm species that develop resistance to the mectins. Resistance has been documented in several countries, including New Zealand and some studies cite failures of multiple types of “mectins”. In almost all the studies, pyrantel was used effectively to control the worms. Strategy T Oral Paste for Horses is effective in treating and controlling worms in young horses. The unique formulation of two synergistic ingredients is designed to combat mectin-resistance. The oral paste is particularly suitable for worming young horses from six weeks to 24 months as they need special protection from potentially mectinresistant ascarids. It also protects them from all other worms. Studies have proven Strategy T Oral Paste for Horses to be safe for use on all types of horses including

| Ascarids affect young horses and can quickly develop into life-threatening numbers.

pregnant mares, foals and breeding stallions1. Ideally worming of young horses should be performed on the basis of faecal egg counts and on a yearly basis. Talk to your vet for a programme that’s right for you. Equimax LV Oral Paste for Horses can complement your worming strategies as it is a low-volume, broad-spectrum, easy-to-apply worming paste that treats all major parasites including all three species of tapeworm and bots. For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. 1. Virbac data on file. Article supplied by Virbac.

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FORAGE AND ARABLE

From crop to pasture Plan to get everything right for establishing a new crop this season but also aim to set future pasture up to be more productive than the last run-out one. “Pasture persistence following cropping is a challenge on soils damaged during forage cropping, as vigorous cultivation often leads to poor pasture persistence. If you want the soil to work for you, one key message is: leave the soil undisturbed,” Ballance Agri-Nutrients Forage Specialist Murray Lane says. “Crops have been grown using no-tillage techniques for nearly 50 years, so if you’re still cultivating, it’s time for a change. Tillage creates a seed bed for primitive drills but no-till drills handle the soil as it is.” Successful crop establishment starts in autumn with spraying to control perennial weeds such as browntop, couch, paspalum, kikuyu and Californian thistle. “You’ll be more successful at killing these weeds and the paddock will produce more through winter when sown into a new, winter-active ryegrass. The weeds’ roots and stems rot over the winter, allowing easier, no-till drilling of the forage crop in spring,” Murray says. When no-till drilling a brassica, or chicory, plantain or clover crop, control slugs and drill with fertiliser. “Without cultivation, slug populations will be large, so the drill contractor should have a slug bait spreader on the drill. Also, as there’s no soil mineralisation, drilling with 150kg of DAP or Cropzeal Boron Boost makes

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| Protection of new crop seedlings is the difference between success and failure, says a forage specialist.

up for this, giving seedlings an early boost towards canopy development.

but it’s mostly not needed with

“The next phase, protecting the new crop seedlings, is the difference between success and failure. If springtails weren’t controlled when the paddock was sprayed out, seedlings may appear not to germinate. The 30,000 plus springtails per square metre may have consumed them.”

weed seedlings,” Murray says.

About three weeks after sowing, a nitrogen side-dressing gives the crop the vigour to outcompete weeds. SustaiN is the product of choice to reduce volatilisation losses. An Available N test, taken as part of the pre-crop soil test, helps determine the amount to apply. If under 100, then apply 200+kg SustaiN/ha.

no-tillage, or maybe just for grass “Without genetically modified crops and the BT gene, we have to keep spraying to control white butterfly, leaf miner and diamondback moth caterpillars. With brassicas this can be as often as every three weeks in summer. A couple of new insecticides target only the pest and leave the predator to that pest, such as ladybirds that are unaffected and are able to keep working for you.” “Lastly, after crop harvest and going back into new perennial pasture, don’t cultivate, simply drill the new seeds with DAP.”

Around the same time, an in-crop, postemergence herbicide may be needed to control germinating annual weeds.

For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store.

“With tillage, herbicide will be required

Article supplied by Ballance Agri-Nutrients.

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FORAGE AND ARABLE

Fodder beet improves yields on a winter budget In the first year of using fodder beet,

Following strict guidelines for a

Knightlea Ltd Dairy Farm Manager

structured transition of the cows

and joint owner, Will Bailey was

onto the crop was key to receiving

skeptical for a number of reasons.

the results he did but Will now

The Swannanoa farmer was unsure whether the crop would fit well into his system and was wary of issues with transitioning his herd onto the crop.

believes fodder beet is an essential part of his herd’s winter feed and supplementary feed for milking. “The cows milked well off the fodder beet and they successfully

Two years on and Will is very pleased

held their condition,’ he says.

with the results he has received from

Choice of cultivar is a very important

his fodder beet crop, with improved

part of the equation when it comes to

yields it has proved to be a successful

high yields and Jamon fodder beet is

fit on the winter feed budget.

proven to be a persistent performer

in New Zealand trials. The high yields received from Jamon meant Knightlea Ltd Dairy Farm had excess fodder beet left after winter feeding. The left-over bulbs were kept until spring and fed to the milking herd at 2kg per cow, per day in August and September. This year’s crop of Jamon was sown on the 6th of November and has been yielded at 28 tonne, with a bulb dry matter of 16.5 percent and a leaf dry matter of 12.1 percent. The crop got off to a rocky start with an incredibly wet spring, which merged into a latestarting summer where it didn’t rain for nearly two months. Farmlands Technical Field Officer Malcolm Wyllie implemented a thorough weed and insect spray programme, with one fungicide application of Escolta completed in early February. This season, Will started feeding the fodder beet on the 1st of May when it was lifted from the paddock and fed through the wagon. Following the transition period, each cow’s total diet will be 6kg of beet, 5kg of kale, 1kg of straw (fed ad-lib) and 3-4kg of grass silage. Will says the cows have been transitioning well and utilisation of the leaf and bulb has been high. “I’m planning on using Jamon fodder beet again next season as it has become a reliable source of feed on my farm.” For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Agricom.

| Will Bailey, co-owner of Knightlea Dairy Farm, pictured here with his Technical Field Officer Malcolm Wyllie.

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ANIMAL MANAGEMENT

When should I drench my dairy cows? When you drench dairy cows will depend on the goals you want to achieve. If you are mainly focused on producing more milk, the decision is straight forward. A meta-analysis of 75 published clinical trials conducted between 1972 – 2002 showed the average increase in milk production (kg of milk per cow per day) to be

0.35kg for treated compared to untreated cows1. The analysis also showed that the endectocides (e.g. Cydectin® Pour-On) had higher milk production responses compared to the older anthelmintic products. Treatments applied in mid-lactation or strategically (several times during the year), gave higher milk production responses compared to treatments applied at other times.

If your focus is on reproductive performance, treating at calving may be more appropriate. Trials with an endectocide given to firstcalving cows at this time showed a significant decrease in calving to conception interval and an increase in first-time conception rate2. If your focus is on lice control or body condition, treatment at dry off may give you the best results. Other factors which might also influence drench timing are weather conditions and larval contamination levels. After a wet summer and autumn, larval challenge is likely to be high on pasture, which would infer that drenching cattle would give you a better response than after a very dry summer when larval challenge is likely to be low. Irrespective of what your goals are and when you choose to drench your cows, Cydectin Pour-On is a great choice due to its nil milk, meat and bobby calf withholding periods. This New Zealand-made product is also very well tolerated at recommended doses, easy to use and rain-fast. For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Cydectin is a registered trade mark of Zoetis. ACVM No. A6203 1. Sanchez, J, et al. (2004). “A meta-analysis of the milk-production response after anthelmintic treatment in naturally infected adult dairy cows.” Prev Vet Med 63(3-4): 237-256. 2. McPherson WB, Slacek B, Familton A, Gogolewski RP, Gross SJ. (2000). “The impact of eprinomectin treatment on dairy cattle reproductive performance.” Proc 17th Annual Seminar, Society of Dairy Cattle Veterinarians NZVA Article supplied by Zoetis.

| Focusing on either milk production, reproduction, lice control or body condition will influence when and what you drench with.

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ANIMAL MANAGEMENT

DNA sampling more efficient with tissue sample Hair DNA samples are now considered at higher risk of cross-contamination compared with wet tissue sampling, which has become the preferred method for New Zealand beef and deer farmers. Wet tissue sampling enables parentage verification, genetic selection and BVD screening. Samples are only required to be chilled to keep them viable. Allflex Livestock Intelligence have worked extensively with leading biotechnology companies, livestock genetic testing labs and leading livestock producers to produce an innovative Tissue Sampling Unit (TSU). “The science of beef genomics testing is making big advances and so are the companion technologies that enable it. Having DNA sampling that is fast and clean makes it easier for the producer to adopt genomicassisted selection, management and marketing,” Jared Briggs, New Zealand Commercial Manager, says. The resultant TSU has many benefits for the farmer including: • The ability to collect samples in seconds using minimal animal restraint thanks to the single-squeeze motion on the TSU applicator. • The genetic material is sealed in a specially designed preservative that yields excellent lab results.

| DNA collection using a tissue-sampling unit lowers the chance of cross-contamination and requires minimal animal restraint.

Lifespan of the sample is supported Jared advises that wet samples should be transported to the lab via a reliable courier service (preferably a one or two-day service). This is made easier thanks to the TSU being fully sealed and positively identified with both a 2D barcode and an ID panel. For ease and accuracy, TSU’s can also be conveniently paired to match

for archiving, which is important to seed stock producers. Previously, once unsealed the vial unit was no longer useable. Today, labs can reseal tissue in the vial for archiving. This enables breed associations to: retest animals as DNA technology advances; resolve suspected errors in animal ID, pedigree or parentage; and confirm DNA when animals are sold or transferred.

sampling plier, which allows

NAIT and visual management tags

quick loading and sampling

(TSU Birth Sets), creating an

– most animals are not aware

absolute sample-to-animal linkage.

For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store.

a sample has been taken.

The testing system also now provides

Article supplied by Allflex.

• The TSU applicator is an ergonomic

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ANIMAL MANAGEMENT

Heat detection counters challenges of autumn calving David Cole would be the first to admit farming in Northland has its challenges and choosing to mate cows in winter for autumn calving doesn’t make things easier.

While autumn calving brings some real advantages for the Dargaville farmer, namely matching cow demand to the region’s seasonal grass growth patterns, there is an Achille’s heel that comes with it. The shorter, colder days of winter have less sunshine hours which can compress a cow’s heat period and make detecting whether she is on heat a difficult job. Despite 20 years of enjoying ideal ground and weather conditions at autumn calving time, David has struggled with submission rates stalling around 70–75 percent in the first three weeks, short of the desired 90 percent target.

“I do my own AI and I know the units have detected eight cows that were definitely on heat that we would not have detected ourselves, given the tail paint was not indicating they were on heat. Out of 220 cows, that is significant.” The unit’s ability to operate over multiple heat cycles meant its cost was easier to justify than “oneheat” alternatives that require renewing after each heat event. “We have got a few cows coming up to their third mating and the Flashmate is still detecting and flashing red for them when they do.”

“Between us two old guys, we have 50 years of detecting cows on heat at this time of year and even we can struggle to pick them all up.”

Applying the units was achieved

That difficulty is what puts many farmers off switching to autumn calving, despite how well suited it is to Northland weather conditions.

retention rate has been excellent,

For David, herd submission rates are lower than he would like and they flow through to a six week in-calf rate that sits in the 60 percent range, short of the national target of 78 percent.

only greater accuracy in detection, but

To try and improve his herd’s submission rate in winter, David decided to try the Gallagher Flashmate heat detection units. Flashmate is a standalone heat detection unit that attaches to cows to monitor their heat behaviour. It identifies positive heat behaviour which causes it to flash red for 26 hours – ample time to identify the cow, draft her off and ensure she is inseminated.

easily during milking, with new glue re-applied to them as cows came in on heat. He says the Flashmate with only 12 coming off his 220 cows over nine weeks of mating. For David, Flashmate has provided not even greater reassurance given he only uses AI without any bull follow up. “Aaron has said he hopes we are going to use Flashmate next year, this is the most relaxed mating period he has ever had. It can be hard to quantify, but it’s peace of mind when the flashing is so visual, they just draw your attention, you can’t miss it.” For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Gallagher.

| Heat detection units identify positive heat behaviour to ensure the cow is inseminated at the right time.

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ANIMAL MANAGEMENT

Spring dairy calf drenching The future production of your farm is very much reliant on the quality of your replacement heifers. A major target for ensuring these heifers’ future production in the milking herd is their weight at first mating, around 15 months of age. Once a healthy calf is reared and well-adjusted to a grass diet, farmers then need to optimise growth rates on pasture through to the first mating. A good parasite control programme is an important part of this. In weaned calves, Scanda® is an ideal choice of oral drench for young calves heavier than 50 kilograms liveweight. Scanda is a double combination containing both oxfendazole and levamisole. Calves still feeding on milk rarely need drenching but if they are to be drenched it should be given with a drench gun and not mixed in with the milk. Once calves weigh over 100kg other combinations of actives can be considered, the goal being to gain better control over the two most important parasites of calves: Cooperia sp. and Ostertagia sp. Cooperia is of concern, particularly in young stock, with significant burdens on pasture building up and supressing their appetite and growth. Cooperia worms are resistant to the ML or ‘mectin’ family of drenches. Levamisole has retained good efficacy against ML resistant Cooperia1. The other species we are concerned about in cattle is Ostertagia, which are the most harmful worms in cattle of all ages. The ML drenches are best for

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| Combat parasite resistance and disease to ensure excellent growth rates in your replacement heifers.

the control of Ostertagia – particularly the potent, active abamectin.

and often the first you will see of

Converge® is an ideal choice for calves above 100kg liveweight as it contains both levamisole and abamectin. For extra protection from resistance consider Alliance®, a triple combination that contains oxfendazole along with levamisole and abamectin.

of even the biggest calves.

Although pour-on drenches are seen as more convenient, studies have shown that their

after weaning (in combination with your

efficacy can be variable2. Oral drenches are the most costeffective way to combat resistance and ensure excellent growth rates in your replacement heifers.

B12® is easy to include in the same

Protection against clostridial disease is also an important consideration for your replacement heifers. Clostridial diseases in cattle include malignant oedema, tetanus, pulpy kidney, black disease and blood poisoning. These are caused by bacteria found in the environment

these diseases is the sudden death Prevention by vaccination is your only option and Multine® 5-in-1 is an excellent choice. Full protection requires an initial sensitizer and then a booster 4–6 weeks later. This programme can be started at any time drench programme) and if vitamin B12 supplementation is required, Multine injection as your 5-in-1 vaccination. Please always refer to the product label. For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. ACVM No: A10119, A10249, A000934, A7130, A11311 ®Registered trademark. Schering-Plough Animal Health Ltd. NZ/ALCE/0718/0006 1. National Drench Resistance Survey 2004-2005. Waghorn T S et al. NZVJ 54 (6), 278-282, 2006. 2. Leathwick, D M & Miller, C M. Vet. Parasitology 191 (2013) 293-300. Article supplied by MSD Coopers.

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RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Rotokaia Farm’s hard to ‘beet’ fencing system Canterbury farmers Dave Jackways and Steve Booker, managers of syndicate-owned Rotokaia Farm, needed to beef up their fencing system to protect a valuable fodder beet crop from overgrazing. They use a 230-hectare run-off between Rakaia and Ashburton to graze young stock, as well as for wintering many of the operation’s 1,950 cows from the 750-hectare home farm in Dorie. The run-off grew 70 hectares of fodder beet for winter feed. While fodder beet can be expensive to grow, its high metabolisable energy content make it an ideal crop for wintering cows. However, cows have to be gradually transitioned onto the crop through careful breakfeeding. “We don’t want the cows getting too much too soon because that could be fatal,” Dave says.

Dave was looking for an electric fence system to help manage the animals and to protect the crop. He said he needed a system that can deliver the power their farm needs and more.

Energizer. Dave says their Energizer is mounted inside an irrigation pump shed and the Controller is mounted on the outside of this shed “where it’s easy to see when you are going past”.

“Most of our breaks are big, long faces, so if we come across a problem when moving the fence, we need something that can turn the power off using a remote – that allows us to fix the problem, turn it back on again and then carry on.”

The Energizer Controller can also be used to turn the Energizer unit on or off, set alarm levels and make finetuning adjustments to the target output voltage. It not only shows that a fault has occurred but also its location.

This time-saving benefit is a huge drawcard of the Gallagher M5800i. Powerful, intelligent and highly functional, the mains-powered Energizer delivers exactly what Dave and his team need. It comes with an Energizer Controller that can be positioned away from the main Energizer unit. This enables Dave and his team to monitor the condition of the fence and performance of the

The Energizer was also supplied with an Energizer Remote and Fault Finder which enables Dave to quickly locate faults, turn the Energizer on or off remotely and test a fence once a repair is completed. “It tells you exactly which part of the farm the fault is in and where it is, so you don’t have to trudge over the whole farm looking for it,” he says. Rotokaia Farm has four Fence Monitors spread around the run-off. The Fence Monitors recognise any drop in performance at their location and immediately relay this information to the Energizer Controller (which can also be managed via SMS). A complete and reliable electric fence system did not just save time for the team at Rotokaia Farm but also brought them peace of mind. They are confident that their animals are being contained well in a safe manner and their investment in fodder beet crop is protected from overgrazing. For further information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Gallagher.

| Dave Jackways uses fencing technology to save time and effort around his farm.

THE FARMLANDER